Dry region in Bangladesh. UN sounds alarm: global water crisis widens Sustainable Development Goals
Per capita availability of renewable water resources continues to decline and has fallen another 7 percent over the past ten years. This is according to a new review of the AQUASTAT database published today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
We are talking about freshwater resources that are renewed annually as a result of the natural hydrological cycle. According to FAO, Central Asia has lost 12 percent of available renewable water resources per capita since 2015, one of the highest rates in the world.
To measure the level of water scarcity, FAO experts use an indicator called “water stress,” or the level of stress on water resources. It reflects the percentage ratio of water withdrawal to its reserves. Central Asia faces water stress due to its water use patterns: 82 percent of all water withdrawals in Central Asia come from agriculture.
Despite this, according to FAO, the region has recorded positive trends in resource management. Thus, total freshwater withdrawals decreased by 9 percent (from 123 million m³ in 2015 to 112 million m³ in 2022), and the level of water stress decreased from 76.8 percent to 70.2 percent – a decrease of 8.6 percent.
Global indicators
A review of data shows that pressure on freshwater resources is increasing in all parts of the world.
In 2022, the level of average water stress in the world reached 18 percent, but in some regions it is significantly higher:
- North Africa – 121 percent;
- South Asia – 76.7 percent;
- Central Asia – 70.2 percent;
- Western Asia – 65.1 percent.
High levels of stress mean that annual water withdrawals approach or exceed natural replenishment, threatening the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems and economies.
Agriculture remains the largest user of water
FAO notes that agriculture remains the largest water-using sector in the world.
Europe and North America use a relatively small share of water in agriculture – 34 percent, but are responsible for nearly half of the world’s industrial withdrawals (47 percent).
FAO estimates that improvements in water use efficiency are being seen in several regions, including Central Asia. However, high levels of stress in most drylands highlight the need for long-term adaptation and sustainable management.